The Ultimate Guide To Sheet Masks

If you haven’t tried a sheet mask and taken hundreds of sheet mask selfies, then where have you been? Sheet mask, a huge skincare trend in recent years, designed to transform your skin within fifteen minutes while you are watching your favourite show on Netflix.

 

Sheet masks originated from Japan and South Korea, known for their addiction to cosmetics and skincare. If essences are known as the heart of the Korean skincare routine, sheet masks are the soul. Before hitting western markets, sheet masks have already been widely popular in Asia, where most people there are sheet mask junkies as they are using at least one piece for the other day. It has also become the skincare secret of many celebrities. Fan Bingbing, a famous Chinese actress is well - known for her flawless and snow-like skin and for her love of using facial masks, and is called the ‘Queen of Masks’ as she used over 700 masks in one year.

 

Fan Bingbing

 

But what is actually a sheet mask and why should we get our hands on? How to use it and how often should we use it? To answer those most frequently asked questions about sheet masks, here is The Ultimate Guide from Glam Touch Team!

 

What is a sheet mask?

 

In a nutshell, sheet masks are face-shaped sheet fabrics immersed in a quantity of serum. The sheet is infused with concentrated essence and adhere to your skin. A sheet mask is for single use only and usually individually packed.

The sheet is made up of a variety of materials and each of them may have different characteristics. Here is a break down of the most commonly used materials:

1. Cotton & Microfiber & Cupra & Tencel

These four types of materials are the most common ones in the market, which are all made of soft white cellulose fabrics, a plant-derived and non-irritating kind of material. Cotton and Microfiber are white fabrics that are soft, absorbent and can fit well on the face without irritating the skin. Cupra and tencel are transparent when applied on the skin. Cupra is made from short fibers that are left behind after processing raw cotton, allowing more moisture control and evener essence distribution. Tencel is a newer fiber that is biodegradable, eco-friendly and feels like silk on the skin!

 

 

2. Hydrogel

Hydrogel is a material that has a transparent look and needs careful application. With strong pulling or tugging, a hydrogel mask may rip and you will have no clue of applying it. However, they are really light and thin, giving a cool and soothing feeling. It is worth trying!

 

 

3. Bio-cellulose

Briskin Real Fit SecondSkin Mask

 

This feels like your second skin! Bio-cellulose is an all natural fiber and can adhere to your skin perfectly. It is like Hydrogels but even thinner. Its strong adhesion enables better absorption of active ingredients, which is appealing for mask junkies as we don’t want to waste a drop of those nutrients.

 

4. Foil

 

Foil masks usually have metal textures and it may looks a little crazy. It helps your skin to absorb more the liquid, nutrients and active ingredients by preventing evaporation. It usually has a cotton layer inside to make it comfortable to wear on face.

 

5. Charcoal

 

Charcoal is a black material and has a super smooth feeling on the skin. The sheet is compressed with charcoal powder which can balance out excess oils.

What are the benefits?

They are extremely easy and convenient to use! It is so portable that you can take one with you and apply it even on a plane or during breaks between work and courses.

More importantly, sheet masks bring immediate effects addressing specific concerns such as dehydration, acne or anti-aging. The serum of a sheet mask infused with many beneficial and effective ingredients to the skin including hyaluronic acid and vitamins which is dissolved in the water phase. The sheet can prevent serum evaporating too fast during the water phrase and thus help the serum to soak in your skin a little longer and help those ingredients penetrate deep into the skin.

Last but not least, sheet masks are great fun and a good excuse to treat yourself with a refreshing downtime.

How should I use it and how often should I use it?

After cleaning your face and toning, simply take a piece of sheet mask and apply it on your face. Wait for 15-30 minutes, take off and pat in the remaining essence for further absorption. Your skin will be noticeable softer and deeply moisturised. Usually the sheets are one size, but every face has its own characteristics, it would be easier to start from the forehead and pat it softly as you come down to your faces and open the holes for your eyes, nose and mouth.

It's also recommended to use 1-2 times a week, but if your skin is dehydrated or you want a boost, you can use a sheet mask daily. Cheers to radiant skin!

 

Glam Touch Best Picks

No matter if you are looking for a solution to certain skin concerns or just fancy a fun addition to your stable daily routine that will add a boost for your skin, we’ve rounded up some of the most hard-working Korean sheet masks for you!

 

Hydration

 

Want to keep your skin looking fresh and dewy? d’Alba White Truffle Nourishing Treatment Mask is a silky-soft, skin-fitting sheet mask enriched with White Truffle extract and Centella Asiatica extract delivers a surge of deep hydration and extra energy to skin for a plump, smooth, glowing look in minutes.

 

Soothing

 

Merbliss Wedding Dress Aloe Honey Soothing Mask enriched with propolis, aloe, and honey extracts helps boost skin immunity while delivering abundant moisture and vitality. It is a perfect solution for damaged skin as it can instantly soothe irritated skin and provides moisture to ease clam sunburn and tightens the enlarge pores with the cooling effect of aloe.

 

Brightening

 

When skin looks dull, makeup doesn’t sit well or pore looks larger than it should be, the Briskin Real Fit Second Skin Mask is a must. A brighter, more youthful looking complexion is just a few minutes away. Active ingredients coconut water, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide along with botanical extracts work to boost skin’s elasticity and moisture level to pump up and glow. Other ingredients such as pearl extract further brightens, and sea daffodil extract helps with dark spots. All this goodness is effectively delivered to skin using an ultra-thin bio cellulose mask which adheres to skin perfectly.

 

Pore Care

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask

 

This sheet mask not only soothes sensitive skin with calming ingredients, but also contains special ingredients such as erythritol to cool the skin and Salix Alba Bark extract to help control sebum and pore care.

 

Plant Sheet Mask

 

Briskin Origin nature mask is a magic natural plant mask created by 100% natural ingredients. Two-step solution natural plant mask sheet softly fits your faces like a glove. You can feel the clean natural energy with its pure plant ingredients including Calendula, Rose and Mugwort which help soothe tired, sensitive skin, tighten loose skin and replenish moisture to skin respectively.

 

Luxury Sheet Masks

High-end sheet masks are usually those made by luxury skincare brands such as Sulwhasoo, The History of Whoo. These sheet masks are generally pricy due to the quality of the product formulated with fancy ingredients and leave our skin looking healthy and radiant.

 

 

Infused with White Ginseng extracts, strengthened through a two week fermentation method, this advanced bio-cellulose mask locks in moisture and key brightening ingredients for a long lasting effect.

What are your favourite sheet masks? We’d love to hear!

Leave A Comment